Dyeing and like machine



5 May 2,, 19330 R Q MATHEW 1,906,8Q1

DYEING AND LIKE MACHINE Filed Dec. 11; 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

,5. C- Waer y 9 E9330 F. MATHER DYEING AND LIKE MACHINE Filed Dec. 11, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED SATES PATENT OFFICE ROY CRAGO MATHER, OF PARK WORKS, MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO MATHER & PLATT LIMITED, MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, A BRITISH COMPANY DYE-ING- AND LIKE MACHINE Application filed December 11, 1931, Serial No. 580,389, and in Great Britain December 11, 1930.

This invention relates to dyeing and like machines in which fabrics in endless rope form are plaited into a vat or bath (in which they are subjected to wet treatment) by means of an elliptical winch. When dealing with delicate fabrics, I find that the uneven pull on the fabric as it is drawn by the elliptical winch from the circular winch (which raises it outof the vat or bath) may bruise or damage the fabric. Further I find that this uneven pull causes an uneven travel of the fabric through the dye liquor resulting in uneven dyeing. It is the object of thepresent invention to provide means which whilst ensuring the proper plaiting of the fabric bythe elliptical winch, minimizes or eliminates variations in pull upon the fabric as it is drawn by .the elliptical winch from the circular winch.

My invention comprises the intergearlng of the elliptical and circular winches by a chain drive, in such a way as to ensure uniform surface speeds of said winches, and the provision of means which adjust the relative position of the axes of the winches to compensate for the elliptical shape of the plaiting winch and of the chain wheel associated therewith, and so maintain a uniform 7 .during each revolution of the elliptical winch to compensate for the varying radii of the latter. For example, with a ratio of circular winch to elliptical winch of 2 to ,1 and employing eccentric means to oscillate the elliptical winch axis, the eccentric makes two strokes per revolution of theelliptical winch.

In the accompanying drawings I Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a plaiting dyeing machine according to one form of the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a diagrammatic plan and end elevation of the winches.

machine represented at Figure 1,- certain of the parts not concerned in the invention being omitted for the sake of clearness.

In one convenient application of the invention,'the circular winch 1 has upon its shaft 2 (which constitutes the driving shaft of the machine) a chain wheel 3 of the same the two chain wheels 3 and 6 to drive the two winches 1 and 4i at a uniform surface speed. In the drawings, the winches are shown with their circumferences in the ratio of two to one and the elliptical winch makes half a revolution for each revolution of the circular winch. The shaft 5 carrying the elliptical winch 4: and its chain wheel 6 is carried by rocking arms or levers 8 which may be of bell crank pattern and which permit the shaft 5 to be oscillated and move away from and towards the axis of the circular winch, sothat there may be relative displacement of the axes adapted to compensate for the varying radii of the elliptical winch.

The rocking'arms 8 are pivotally mounted at 9upon standardslO or other fixtures, and

are pivotally coupled at 11 to one end of connecting rods 12. The other ends of the rods have eccentric sheaves embracing eccentrics 13 keyed to the shaft 2. The oscillations imparted by the eccentrics to the rods displace or oscillate the axis of the shaft 5 twice during each revolution of the winch 4:, and it has been found that the eccentrical means afford a substantially uniform chain and fabric tension and compensate for practical purposes the radial variations of the elliptical winch. Instead of eccentric means appropriately designed cam tracks or cams may be employed as when an eccentric is employed to move the connecting rods which adjust the .shaft carrying the elliptical winch and chain wheel, there may be small variations in the tension of the chain between the two winches and corresponding variations in the tension of the cloth passing to the elliptical winch, but such variations are not of importance particularly where dealing with the less delicate cloths. With a suitably shaped cam track, however, the movements of the elliptical winch and chain wheel may be more accurately controlled to ensure uniformity of chain and cloth tension between the winches.

lVhile the movement of the elliptical Winch carrying shaft as before described, does in some measure alter the effect of the elliptical shape of the winch in ensuring the plaiting of the fabric, I find in practice, that the cloth can be satisfactorily plaited with an elliptical winch having my chain and cloth tension compensating arrangements applied thereto.

In the drawings, the cloth is shown by the chain dotted line 14 and the plaiting is conveniently represented at 15 at one end of the vat 16. Ihe cloth leaves the vat to return to the circular winch over a counterpoised guide winch composed of tubes'indicated in the drawings by the circle 17. The machine is provided with the usual appertinances and auxiliary parts including clutch and knockofi mechanism and steam and liquid connection in known manner. The bearings (not shown) for the shaft 2 may be mounted adjustably longitudinally of the machine to vary or initially set the same or alter the working chain tension. 1 In carrying the shaft 5 with the elliptical winch 4 and its chain wheel 6 on rocking arms or levers 8, I may carry the shaft 5 in bearings free to slide underthe control of the connecting rods 12.

What I claim is 1. In dyeing and like machines of the kind described, the combination of a circular winch, an elliptical plaiting winch, a circular chain wheel for said circular winch, an

elliptical chainwheel for said elliptical plaiting winch, an endless chain passing over said chain wheels to drive said winches with a uniform surface speed, and means associated with said winches to adjust the relative positions of the axes thereof to compensate for the elliptical shape of said plaiting winch and its chain wheel and maintain uniform or substantially uniform tension in said endless chain and in the fabric, and a uniform or substantiallyuniform rate of travel of the fabric.

2. In dyeing and like machines of the kind described, the combination of a circular winch, an elliptical plating winch, a circular chain wheel for said circular winch, an elliptical chain wheel for said elliptical plaiting winch, an endless chain passing over said chain wheels to drive said winches with a uniform surface speed, the gear ratio of the chain drive being equal to the relative proportion of the circumferences of said winches, and means associated with said winches to effect a relative movement of the axes of the winches twice during each revolution of said elliptical winch to compensate for the elliptical shape of said plaiting winch and its chain wheel and maintain uniform or substantially uniform tension in said endless chain in the fabric, and a uniform or substantially uniform rate of travel of the fabric.

3. In dyeing and like machines of the kind described, the combination of a circular winch, an elliptical plaiting winch, a circular chain wheel for said circular winch, an elliptical chain wheel for said elliptical plaiting winch, an endless chain passing over said chain wheels to drive said winches with a uniform surface speed, and an eccentric associated with said winches to adjust the relative positions of the axes thereof to compensate for the elliptical shape of said plaiting winch and its chain wheel and maintain uniform or substantially uniform tension in said endless chain and in the fabric, and a uniform or substantially uniform rate of travel of the fabric.

4. In dyeing and like machines of the kind described, the combination of a circular winch, an elliptical plaiting winch, a circular chain wheel for said circular winch, an elliptical chain wheel for said elliptical plaiting winch, an endless chain passing over said chain wheels to drive said winches with a uniform surface speed, the gear ratio of the chain drive being equal to the relative proportion of the circumferences of said winches, and an eccentric associated with said winches to elfect a relative movement of the axes of the winches twice during each revolution of said elliptical winch to compensate for the elliptical shape of said plaiting winch and its chain wheel and maintain uniform or substantially uniform tension in said endless chain and in the fabric, and a uniform or substantially uniform rate of travel of the fabric.

5. In dyeing and like machines of the kind described, the combination of a circular winch, an elliptical plaiting winch, a circular chain wheel for said circular. winch, an elliptical chain wheel for said elliptical plaiting winch, an endless chain passing over said chain wheels to drive said winches with a uniform surface speed, and a cam associated with said winches to adjust the relative positions of the axis thereof to compensate for the elliptical shape of said plaiting winch and its chain wheel and. maintain uniform or substantially uniform tension in said endless chain and in the fabric, and a uniform or substantially uniform rate of travel of the fabric.

6. In dyeing and like machines of the kind described, the combination of a circular winch, an elliptical plaiting winch, a circular chain wheel for said circular winch, an elliptical chain wheel for said elliptical plaiting Winch, an endless chain passing over said chain wheels to drive said winches with a uniform surface speed, rocking arms on which the shaft of said elliptical winch is mounted, eccentrics upon the shaft of said circular winch and connecting rods between said eccentrics and said rocking arms, said rocking arms, eccentrics and connecting rods eflecting a relative movement of the axis of said winches to compensate for the elliptical shape of said plaiting winch and its chain Wheel and maintain uniform or substantially uniform tension in said endless chain and in the fabric, and a uniform or substantially uniform rate of travel of the fabric.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name-to this specification.

ROY CRAGO MATHER. 

